England went into the third Test match, at Old Trafford, Manchester one up in the series, hopeful that they might finally be able to get the better of Australia,
Those illusions were dispelled over the course of the next five days.
They initially did well, despite losing the toss and having to bowl. Australia were struggling at 42/3, until Steve Waugh’s 108 helped them to 235.
But, not for the first, or the last time, they found Shane Warne too much to cope with. He took 6-48 as England were dismissed for 162.
Australia lost early wickets again, and again Steve Waugh helped get them out of a hole. He made 116, and helped by half centuries from his brother Mark and Warne, and solid batting from Ian Healy and Paul Reiffel, Australia declared on 395/8.
Second time round, England were bowled out for 200 exactly, John Crawley making 83 of them. Glenn McGrath took 4-46, and there were three more wickets for Warne, as Australia won by 268 runs.
The margin of defeat in the fourth Test match, at Headingley, Leeds was even more emphatic.
Australia won the toss and invited England to bat. Jason Gillespie exploited the conditions to take 7-37 as England were all out for 172, the last seven wickets falling for just 34.
At 50/4, Australia were struggling in their reply, before Matthew Elliott and Ricky Ponting shared a stand of 268 for the fifth wicket. Ponting eventually fell for 127 and Elliott fell one short of his double century. Their efforts, along with Paul Reiffel's 54 not out, helped Australia declare on 501/9.
Needing 330 just to make Australia bat again, England were all out for 268. Nasser Hussain made 105 and Crawley 72, but another late order collapse saw their side succumb meekly in the end.
Reiffel took 5-49 to go with his batting performance, and Australia went up two-one after being one-down in the series.